Trouble With the Curve (Learning Curve #2)

by Felicia Lynn

  I’ve asked him to wait until after the draft to contact Charlie, and he agreed so as not to add to her anxiety. He’ll have his hands full the next few days getting to the bottom of things on his end anyway. After hearing only a small snippet of my information over his speakerphone, he dismissed his lead political advisor from his office as well. It was apparent he did not blindly trust anyone in connection with the abuse of his daughter and was taking it very seriously. Especially since Morgan Chambers, Charlie’s former best friend, is the daughter of his lifelong family friend and lead political advisor.

  I have a feeling shit is about to hit the fan. It’s a train wreck I can see from a mile away, and I can’t fucking stop it. All I know is that I have to talk to Charlie before this blindsides her. At least if she has a heads-up, she won’t freak out. But more importantly, my girl needs to know her dad is on her side. She needs to know he loves her and is going to try to fix this.

  How the fuck am I going to bring this shit up? The timing couldn’t be any fucking worse. God, I hope I haven’t just thrown my girl to the wolves by opening the door to help her dad.

  While catching every single red light possible on the way to George’s, my phone chimed, alerting me to a text. I grab it off the seat beside me while waiting for another light to change. I’m sure it’s Charlie wanting to know where in the hell I am. But it’s not.

  Jackson: Dude. Where are you? Shit’s going south fast here at the bar. Morgan fucking Chambers walked in thirty minutes ago. Your girl is holding it together, but Morgan is out for blood.

  FUCK!

  I WAS HAVING A great day working at the restaurant until Morgan walked in with a large group earlier. I’m stunned she’d even consider showing up here. Of course, it’s everyone’s favorite place, but I guess I thought after everything blew up between the two of us, she’d know this place was mine. She knows the Taylor family is important to me. We’re close, and now even tighter than she realized before.

  In my head, our fallout was like a divorce. Instead of separating property, we just completely separated our lives. I left the sorority and moved out of the house. That was always more her thing than mine anyway, so I didn’t care. But George’s? George’s is my territory. I guess I was wrong to assume that since we never actually discussed it and won’t ever if I have any say in it. I’m sure she never expected to see me actually working here, but really?

  I did everything I could to avoid making eye contact with her, but I failed. Morgan didn’t even attempt to avoid gawking at me. Her eyes lit up so much you’d think she’d won the lottery. With a smirk on her face the size of Texas and hushed snickers, she jabbed her friend and sorority sister Christine with her elbow, tipping her head in my direction to make sure she noticed my presence as well. Morgan never took her eyes off me, and even without hearing her comments, I knew the basis of what she was saying.

  Morgan and I haven’t spoken two words to one another since the day I left the sorority house. I knew our chances of crossing paths again were high, but even still, it doesn’t give me warm feelings to deal with it now. Of course, her partner in evil is beside her too, so that’s not any better. I never liked Christine from the day I met her. Not many people are more fake than she is. To make matters worse, they have a group of no less than twenty, and they are sitting in the pub section, taking over several tables that I’ll have to wait on.

  Fantastic. I’m sure this won’t suck at all.

  I look away and plaster the biggest fake smile possible on my face as I walk toward the booth where the guys are waiting for Ty. I’ll busy myself getting them refills and taking their orders before I head to enemy territory. I’m hoping to play it off and pretend I’m unaffected. Obviously, I’m failing at that as well. Ty’s friends are watching me carefully as I walk in their direction, and their concern is evident. Even Bobby, who’s normally a clown and never takes anything seriously, has his hand at the back of his neck rubbing aggressively with his brows furrowed. Instead of admitting defeat, I keep acting and try harder to sell it.

  “Hey, guys, anyone ready for a refill?” I asked cheerfully, standing in front of them and nervously straightening my top as a distraction.

  Jackson’s eyes ping-pong to Morgan, then the bar, and back to myself. I didn’t need to be obvious and turn to see who he’s looking at behind the bar. I see Jamie in my periphery watching me and now us from behind the bar. Clearly, he’s communicating his unease with Jackson. They all saw and heard the rowdy bunch walk in, and I’m sure they couldn’t miss my response to seeing her any more than they missed her response to seeing me. They know this is going to be torture even if I pretend it’s no big deal. This is one of those times it’s a bit inconvenient to have others looking out for you. It’s great to have people care about you, but it makes it almost impossible to hide your head in the sand when things aren’t great, and you want to ignore that fact.

  Jason saves the moment just before I feel like I’m about to lose it and storm off to break down. Sitting at the edge of the booth, he plops his menu down noisily, taking the attention off me. “I’d love another beer, babe. But I’d also like a plate of those potato skins. Make it a double order actually. That asshole you wake up to everyday is on the way, and we both know he’ll steal all my food since he didn’t make it here in time to order his own.” I know this was Jason’s way of delivering a somewhat subliminal message to remind me my guy will be there soon and he’ll make me feel better. Without admitting it, I do immediately feel relief from the reminder and smile as I nod to him then look at the others who are trying to play along as well.

  Jackson guardedly agrees but orders another beer and buffalo chicken dip with chips anyway. He’s a little less willing to pretend the world is rainbows and flowers right now, but he probably feels a little more responsibility to keep an eye out for me when Tyler isn’t around since he’s the closest to him of all the guys.

  Shockingly, though, Bobby surprises me by refusing to let it go and ignore the elephant in the room. Tilting his head to the side, he looks from Morgan to me. Without meaning to, I unintentionally turn to look in the direction of the enemy territory toward the tables she and her huge group of friends are surrounding. Seeing that Morgan is still watching me with a sneer and quite obviously discussing me with her audience isn’t reassuring. I look back at Bobby, shrugging my shoulders, but my fake smile wavers.

  “You know, I have some favors I could call in. I can’t kick that bitch’s ass since hitting a chick isn’t good for my stellar reputation, but I know a few badass chicks who would enjoy the privilege. We both know she’s earned it and has it coming one way or another. Want me to move things along?” His eyebrow quirks questioningly, and I laugh, only partially hoping he’s joking, but I’d much prefer her just go away and leave me alone.

  My lips twitch upward as Jamie walks up, having left the bar. Clearly, he can’t handle not being in the know of whatever is happening. He silently inventories my disposition as he stands beside me, looking from the guys to me. I finally find my voice, and I know I need to quickly reassure them before something drastic happens or someone makes a scene.

  “Guys, I’m fine. Really. Stop stressing. I’m not Morgan’s biggest fan, and she’s definitely not mine, but I can handle being in the same space as her,” I tell them. “I’m a grown-up and completely mature. Even the government believes that, since they consider me responsible enough to consume alcohol and all.” I wink with the fake smile pasted on my face.

  “I’ll take care of that group. You handle the rest of the tables and keep your distance from them,” Jamie says, not even a little moved by my joking. His eyes are firm, and his restrained anger radiates.

  I won’t have this drama surrounding us. I’ve come too far to take steps back and fall into a trap with Morgan. “Absolutely not. Stay behind the bar like normal. This is my job tonight, Jamie. I get why you’re concerned, but I’m fine. I got this. And honestly, I refuse to hide on my own turf and give her that power over me.
I actually want her to see that I’m fine and not scared,” I tell them all confidently.

  Jamie quirks his brow then sighs, and I know he’s giving in. “Charlie girl, I think you’ve been spending too much time with Ty. You’re starting to sound like him. I don’t like this plan of yours, just for the record, but we’ll try it out,” he says, putting a big emphasis on the word try.

  I smile then twirl cheerfully on my heel, acting out my mock delight as I head to the computer screen to put the order in for the guys, adding another beer and side of wings for Bobby even though he didn’t confirm he wanted it. He’s a human trash compactor, so he’ll eat whatever is in front of him anyway.

  Taking a deep breath, I roll my shoulders back and turn, digging for the courage to walk into enemy territory. Faking it is one thing, but now I really need to do it. I move to the opposite side of the table from where Morgan and her friends are standing, but it doesn’t help. Even from a distance, I can hear her comments and snubs, but I ignore them, pretending not to hear as I ask the group mingling around the table what I can get for them.

  “She was such a letdown to her family, and now you see why. She’s waiting tables in a bar. It’s a really painful fall from the top,” Morgan says to anyone who’ll listen.

  Refusing to acknowledge her, I make eye contact with a few of the others sitting and standing from the group. The responses are mixed—some eye me with pity, others are entertained and enjoying the show, and a couple of people are even flat out annoyed with the whole situation or possibly me and/or Morgan in general. Who knows really? But these people are not my friends anyway, so it doesn’t matter.

  A deep voice finally catches my attention. I look in the direction of the voice on the far side of the table where I was avoiding. He’s standing closely to Morgan, and her arm is draped possessively over his. Morgan’s antics quiet as soon as he begins to speak. He’s tall with bright blue eyes and wavy blond hair. He’s well dressed and carries himself with the kind of well-practiced charm that commands attention. He’s just as beautiful now as he’s always been, but I haven’t seen him in years. I didn’t even notice he’d walked in with the group. What in the world is he doing here? And with Morgan?

  Appearing relaxed, he smiles. “Charlotte, we’ll take three buckets of beer. Mix it up with an assortment, if you don’t mind, and order a variety of appetizers for the table. Whatever you think is best is fine.”

  I nod cautiously. My study of him lingers longer than necessary and becomes uncomfortable when I realize everyone around the table is watching silently. A throat is cleared somewhere around us, and I don’t take the time to figure out who it came from before I’m shot back to reality. Rushing away from the group, I realize how incredibly uncomfortable I am with people from my old life infiltrating my new life.

  I busy myself as much as possible, delivering the orders to the tables and taking orders from the others. The excitement to be here helping is lost. I allow myself to become obsessive about making sure everyone is taken care of promptly, and no one has empty drinks or is waiting.

  WHERE IN THE HELL is Ty? He texted almost an hour ago to say he was on the way. Jackson, Bobby, and Jason made it here pretty quickly after I got Ty’s text, and they thought he’d left before them. Maybe he went home to change? Not knowing where he is makes me feel even more anxious.

  I scan the door area again, hoping to see him walk in. I don’t. Feeling defeated, I look at the face of the offensively priced watch on my wrist that my father bought me as a gift years ago. I’m hoping time has magically passed, and it’s almost closing time.

  I sigh softly to myself. “Nope. Four more hours. Ugh.” I should text Ty and check on him or at least warn him about what he’s walking into, but I’m trying not to make a bigger deal out of it than necessary.

  A waving arm in enemy territory catches my attention, obviously needing something else. I look up to see Colby Matthews beckoning me, and I groan, trying not to feel as annoyed as I do or at least hoping not show it outwardly. I know they deserve acceptable service levels that match the steep bar tab their group and table has accrued, but it’s torturous having to even wait on them, and they’ve only been here thirty minutes. Maybe I should have let Jamie take this group? Momentarily questioning my sanity when I decided to be the bigger person. I take a deep breath and head in their direction.

  The sooner they’re served, the sooner they’ll leave, I think as I approach the table. “Everyone good? What else can I get you guys?” I ask with my phony smile plastered snug, hoping my voice is hiding my irritation.

  Again, I hear Morgan’s high-pitched, annoying voice carry across the tables. “Friends? What are you talking about? She doesn’t have real friends that her parents haven’t paid to put up with her.” Several laugh or snicker my direction, and I wish I wasn’t trying so hard to prove my strength and could run away.

  Comments from others begin to join Morgan’s banter, and I know my façade is failing me as I feel the bogus smile begin to fall.

  “She’s never lived in the real world, and there’s no way she’ll make it without an entourage to take care of her,” someone I don’t even recognize says as if I’m not standing right there. How could they possibly say that without knowing me?

  “Her parents cut her off. I wonder what the press would say about this situation? I’m sure her daddy will hate answering questions about that on the campaign trail. Can you imagine? I feel bad for him.” The side-eye dirty sneers I see and feel start to become more overwhelming than I think I can bear, but without caring, they continue.

  “Please. Do you really think that thing with Tyler Stone could possibly last? It won’t take long for him to realize his mistake. Hell, they’ve probably already broken up, which is why she’s working here. A girl like her will taint his reputation for sure.”

  “Ha. If they’re still together, I give it two weeks more max. I mean we all know once he gets signed with a major league team, he’ll drop her like a fly and forget her name.” More laughing. The sound pierces through my eardrums, and I’m sure they’re bleeding.

  My cheeks burn, and my chin drops to my chest, trying to hide the fact that their comments and assumptions have affected me. I feel the wetness in my eyes, and I just want to get away before anyone else notices, but escaping is a fail. My legs are frozen in place. My emotions paralyze me as I embarrassingly absorb every nasty statement or comment spewed with all the dirty, pathetic looks thrown in my direction.

  She’s won, and soon, she’ll know it because I can’t fake it anymore. Apparently, I’m not as strong as I was hoping or at least was attempting to pretend. Give her the trophy she wants so badly because I’m done.

  “Enough! Just shut the fuck up, all of you! Do you even realize how goddamned rude you’re all being? What the hell is wrong with you people? Charlotte is a good person, and no matter what’s happened, I’m sure she doesn’t deserve your crap. Especially from you, Morgan. She’s right in front of you, listening to you spout this bullshit without saying a word. She’s a better person than I am because if I were in her shoes, I’d be planning to destroy each and every one of you,” Colby roars, averting his eyes around to each person in the group. “Is this really the way you treat people?” he asks. I look up and watch as his eyes, cold with disgust, move to glare at each of them. He shakes his head before continuing, this time with his focus on Morgan, who is still standing next to him. She aggressively pulls back her hand that was casually draped over his arm as it becomes clear he’s reprimanding her. He continues, “I don’t know what happened to you two, but for as long as I can remember, the two of you were the best of friends and closer than sisters. It doesn’t even matter, though. This bitchiness is one-sided. You’ve taken your degree of bitchiness to a whole new level tonight, Morgan. Look around, she’s not trashing you or trying to make you feel uncomfortable. This is all on you, and quite frankly, it’s disgusting, and I want no part of it.”

  I say nothing. I don’t think I could if I wan
ted to anyway. I just stand, watching in horror as Morgan’s face turns blood red and the veil hiding her evil and deep-rooted hate for me recedes. Her tone drips with revulsion when she speaks, looking from Colby to me.

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Colby Matthews, so I’d urge you to be careful taking sides in this. Plus, look at her. She’s nobody now. Does Charlotte look like the same person who grew up with us? She’s lost her mind and changed. She abandoned her friends and family for the first guy who gave her an ounce of attention. It was pathetic the way she threw herself at him, and because of it, she ruined everything. She’s old news, but I, on the other hand, am still someone. So I’m warning you to use caution. You are treading on shaky ground, Colby Matthews.”

  Sneering in my direction, Morgan locks her gaze with mine as she speaks, and finally, something clicks inside me, snapping right into place. For the first time since she walked in the door, I find the real strength I’ve fought so hard for these past few months. I knew I had it in me somewhere. It was just hiding for a minute. I’ll certainly agree with her on one thing. I’m absolutely not the same person she knew, but I never want to be that person again. I’ve fought too hard to get to where I am now. I refuse to backpedal. So as much as I wish I could ignore her, letting her say and think whatever she wants and walk away being the bigger person, that’s not going to happen tonight.

  Before I can respond, Colby chimes in again, also peering at Morgan and myself. Only this time, his look is contemplative yet still assured, which confuses me.

  “Yeah, I am looking at her, Morgan. Been looking at her since I walked in the door tonight, so I get you. She definitely doesn’t look like the same person we grew up. She looks better than ever fucking before, and the girl I see definitely isn’t a ‘nobody.’ Charlotte couldn’t be a ‘nobody’ if she tried. Even growing up, without having to be told, I realized she was at the top of our food chain. The girl has always been out of our ballpark and definitely unachievable. Now, she’s in a whole different league—happier, confident, and stronger. Good for her. I like it. She never fit in our fake world anyway, and our world didn’t deserve her. Didn’t you ever see that? I knew at sixteen years of age, and seeing her again all these years later, it’s still as plain as day.” The air around us is stale with silence. You could hear a pin drop from anywhere in the room. Colby Matthew, my teenage crush. The hero of months and months of my teenage diary entries has the full attention of every single person in the whole pub.